The Representation Issue

Deborah Roberts, art competitions, traditional techniques, degree shows and a Freedom Fundraiser print sale

Jun 09, 2020

“From feet to wings (Nessun Dorma)” 2018, Mixed media collage on canvas (165 x 114 cm)

Deborah Roberts

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” - James Baldwin

Moving Austin Art Talk interview with Deborah Roberts from 2019 discussing the show ‘she just had to do’ “Native Sons: Many thousands gone”. (70 mins)

“When you see me” - 2019, Mixed media and collage on canvas (165 x 305cm)

“What I try to do in my work, in my practice, is say: see me as a person, see me as a whole person, not as a partial person or someone who is ugly and allowed to be ridiculed in certain types of publications. But, see me as a whole human being and if you see me as a human being, then you’ll see yourself in me and that makes us equal. That’s the thesis of my work.” - Musée Magazine Interview

“The Burden” - 2019, Mixed media and collage on canvas (165 x 114cm)

“When you look at my work, you have to look at every part of the face and make something out of those fragments. That’s one of the gifts of the work-to see people differently, and not just as one being. Blackness is global.”

Innocence Between Fire And Flood by Aaron Glasson (16 x 25cm, sold out)

Freedom Fundraiser

The Earth Issue have organised an Emergency print sale with over 80 artists and photographers supporting organisations fighting for social justice. All prints are £100 each with 100% of profits going to: Bail Funds: George Floyd and the 4Front Project.

Stolen

Adrian Brandon’s Stolen is a series of portraits of black people who have been killed by police officers. He colours each portrait in for as long as the person was alive: 1 minute of colouring for each year of their life. Updated on Instagram (via Kottke)

The Creative Self

Adobe’s 99U Conference (usually $1,000+) will broadcast for free on June 17th. Artist & ‘paper engineer’ Kelli Anderson and illustrator Octavia Bromell among the speakers.

Anderson’s Disruptive Wonder TED talk is a fun and inspiring precursor. Her wedding invitation that morphs into a working record player is genius. (16 min)

New Masters Academy

Currently researching online art courses and New Masters Academy is the closest I’ve seen to a real life art school for traditional art techniques and practices. With over 30 instructors and courses in anatomy, colour theory, landscape & sculpture - if realism’s your thing their 7 day free trial gives you full access to investigate further.

New Art Competitions

Atlas Pandemica - £3,500 x 8 awards for ‘maps to a kinder world’ (closes 17th June)

RSA Morton Award - £5,000 award, lens based media (closes 28th June)

Templar Illustration Awards - £1,500 in 3 children’s book categories (closes 30th June)

Alex Tzavaras

Staying with traditional techniques, I enjoyed this Jackson’s Art interview with portrait and figure painter Alex Tzavaras and his drawing and painting Youtube channel is better than most I’ve seen for representational art training.

Arts Jobs

Art Tutor - Creative Culture SW - Exeter (£10-£20 an hour)

Art & Design Lecturer - Swindon College (27.5 - 34.5k)

Senior Art Director - Circa Healthcare, Edinburgh (salary TBC)

Creative Artworker - Right Associates, Edinburgh (28-30k)

Fellowships

Arts and Culture University of Exeter - £5,000 to cover costs for 4-5 week Creative Fellowships running in the next academic year (closes 19th June)